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The 2024 Toyota Tacoma will officially debut on May 19th, 2023. After building up the hype for the new “Taco” with a month-long series of official teasers, Toyota Global finally confirmed that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma will receive the baton as the pioneer model year of the nameplate’s 4th generation.
The Toyota Tacoma has been America’s best-selling midsize pickup truck for the greater part of the past two decades. Compared to competing midsize pickup truckslike the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and Ford Ranger, the Tacoma has sold particularly well due to its design, reliability, off-road performance, utility, affordability, low maintenance cost, and good resale value. For instance, Consumer Reports (CR) says that a used 2019 Toyota Tacoma for sale today can still fetch $24,825 to $40,800, significantly pricier than a 2019 Ford Ranger ($22,975 – $34,900) and a 2019 Chevy Colorado ($20,075 – $37,375).
Toyota has only been officially releasing silhouettes and isolated panel photos to provide fans with both concrete information and clues about the 2024 Tacoma’s design and features. Recently, however, a leaked photo of what seems to be a production-spec 2024 Tacoma has circulated online (see first photo above). The image does look official, but it’s best to hold off on any conclusions until the actual launch date.
Based on Toyota’s press releases, design cues from recent Toyota models, and some informed inferences, the 2024 Tacoma will continue to appeal to adventurous and fun-loving pickup truck buyers. Here are 10 changes – both confirmed and highly probable – that will make the 2024 Toyota Tacoma perfect for adventure seekers.
10 The 2024 Tacoma Will Be Built On A More Robust Platform
The leaked “official” image and the Hotcars digital renders of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma reveal that the 2024 Tacoma will be built on the Toyota New Global Architecture – F (TNGA-F) platform – the same one used by other full-size Toyota models like the Tundra, Sequoia, Land Cruiser 300, and their corporate cousin, the Lexus LX. Using lighter and more durable body construction and new powertrains, the TNGA-F platform will give Toyota and Lexus models a lower center of gravity, better fuel efficiency, and better on-road and off-road performance.
Whether drivers want to traverse urban jungles or go on overlanding adventures, the 2024 Tacoma will be built for the challenge.
9 The 2024 Tacoma Will Get TNGA’s New Turbocharged Engine
The current-generation Toyota Tacoma offers two engine options: a base 2.7-liter 4-cylinder mill (159 hp, 180 lb-ft of torque) and a 3.5-liter V6 powerplant (278 hp, 265 lb-ft). Let’s face it – with today’s engine technology and power-to-weight standards, the 2023 Tacoma’s base engine is obviously underpowered, while the top-spec V6 is just barely competitive against competitors’ base and mid-spec engines.
Fortunately, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma will likely adopt TNGA’s new and more spirited powerplant – a 2.4-liter turbocharged I-4 engine that currently provides the 2023 Highlander with 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. With a few more tweaks, Lexus uses this same engine to give 275 ponies and 317 lb-ft of twist to the 2023 Lexus RX.
8 The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Will Receive The i-FORCE MAX Hybrid System
The new 2.4-liter turbo-four engine will give the 2024 Toyota Tacoma roughly the same power that the current Ford Ranger has (270 hp, 310 lb-ft). However, with this gasoline engine alone, the 2024 Tacoma will fall behind the current Chevy Colorado, which boasts up to 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of twist. Fortunately, Toyota already confirmed in one of its teasers that the potent i-FORCE MAX Hybrid electric engine system will be powering the 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro trim.
Currently, the i-FORCE MAX hybrid system powers the 2023 Tundra and Sequoia. This hybrid system – based on a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine and an electric motor – produces 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. As an alternative hybrid engine setup, Lexus also uses the 2024 Tacoma’s expected 2.4-liter turbocharged engine for the RX 500h F-Sport Performance trim’s hybrid propulsion system (366 hp and 406 lb-ft). Toyota will also use this same 4-cylinder engine for the upcoming Grand Highlander’s “Hybrid Max” system (362 hp, 400 lb-ft). Whether the 2024 Toyota Tacoma’s i-FORCE MAX system uses V6 or the turbo-four as its internal combustion engine (ICE) basis is still unknown, but one thing is for sure: either hybrid engine system will give the 2024 Toyota Tacoma a class-leading power output.
7 The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Is Primed For Toyota’s New 10-Speed A/T
The current-generation Toyota Tacoma uses a 6-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) system, which is still a robust transmission system for the current engine options. However, to maximize the output of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma’s new TNGA engines, it’s only fitting that TNGA transmission systems be used. TNGA’s new 10-speed ECT-i system – currently used by the 2023 Tundra and Sequoia – will likely find its way into the 2024 Toyota Tacoma redesign. With more available gear combinations, the 2024 Tacoma will be better equipped to harness its new propulsion systems’ power for both tarmac and trail adventures.
6 The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Will Still Have A Stick Option
Not a fan of automatic transmission? You’re not alone. Many pickup truck owners – especially among hardcore off-roaders and utilitarian truck customers – still prefer to get the manual transmission option (if there’s any) for body-on-frame pickup trucks and SUVs. These manual transmission fans are already few and far between, but to the younger generation of adventurous drivers, expert stick-shift purists are still very influential. For the past few decades, the Taco has not overlooked this niche market by continuously offering a manual transmission option.
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma will not break tradition, as Toyota confirmed with one of its teasers (see the 3-pedal setup image above) that the 2024 Tacoma will still have a TNGA-developed 6-speed M/T option.
5 The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Will Get A New Trailhunter Edition
Last year, Toyota teased the market with a new Trailhunter edition for its production pickup trucks by showcasing a Tundra-based Trailhunter Concept at the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show (SEMA). The Toyota Trailhunter Concept truck had an exclusive suspension setup, off-road bumpers, skid plates, additional exterior lighting, a roof rack, a rooftop tent, and even a refrigerator. Toyota explained that Trailhunter pickup trucks will have Toyota Genuine as well as Associated Accessory Products that will be covered by Toyota’s vehicle warranty. In short, a Trailhunter truck will be an overlanding-ready vehicle that adventurous truck fans can buy straight out of dealerships.
Based on one of the official teaser images, the 2024 Tacoma will be the first Toyota production pickup truck to receive the Trailhunter Edition. The teaser image reveals that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter will have an ARB-branded rear bumper, recovery hook, and skid plate. ARB is Australia’s leading brand of 4×4 vehicle accessories.
4 The New Toyota Tacoma EV May Be A Part Of The 2024 Tacoma Lineup
Toyota showcased a fully-electric pickup truck concept in December 2021, and based on its dimensions and exterior design, many industry experts have inferred that the pickup will be a Toyota Tacoma EV that it will debut along with (or soon after) the 2024 Tacoma’s official launch on May 19th, 2023. Toyota has yet to release any official specifications for the 2024 Tacoma EV’s battery capacity, driving range, and power output, but the electric pickup’s body does look like it’s very close to finalization.
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma EV will probably compete directly against the Rivian R1t due to the similarity in dimensions. Moreover, the Toyota Tacoma EV will be in an advantageous position against the current full-size EV pickups in the market, as the Tacoma EV will probably be lighter, more affordable, and more convenient to drive around than bigger models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Hummer EV SUT.
3 The 2024 Tacoma Will Get More Lights
The Toyota Tacoma’s natural habitats – canyons and deserts, foggy mountain roads, canopy-covered forest trails, and snowy streets – require additional exterior lighting to be braved safely and confidently. This auxiliary lighting equipment often come from aftermarket off-road lighting manufacturers and outfitters. However, instead of risking voided vehicle warranties with aftermarket products, 2024 Tacoma buyers may be better off getting Toyota’s genuine or associated lighting products.
Based on another teaser image from Toyota’s website, some trims of the 2024 Tacoma will receive a grille-integrated LED bar, similar to that of the 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.
2 The 2024 Tacoma Will Get Upgraded Digital Displays
We can be certain that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma redesign will include powertrain, exterior, and interior feature upgrades. Some teaser videos and photos – along with cues from recently-launched Toyota models – point to the probable upgrades to the Tacoma’s infotainment system and instrument cluster.
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma will likely get a standard 7-inch digital instrument cluster and an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster like the ones Toyota installed in the 2023 Highlander. Moreover, Toyota may also provide a new 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system for the 2024 Tacoma – with a high mounting point similar to that of the 2023 Tundra. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features will certainly be convenient, but adventurous Taco fans will likely be more enticed by the larger, clearer display that they can use for the 2024 Tacoma’s Panoramic View and Multi-Terrain Monitor features.
1 The 2024 Tacoma Will Get JBL Flex Portable Speakers
Based on official news and photos, Toyota will provide a JBL premium audio system option with at least one JBL Flex portable speaker for the 2024 Tacoma. JBL Flex speakers fit snugly in dashboard docks, but they can also be brought outside the vehicle’s cabin to continue operation, presumably using a Bluetooth connection. Check out Toyota USA’s teaser above showing one JBL Flex speaker sitting on top of the 2024 Tacoma’s bed. This is perfect for adventurous Tacoma fans who want to enjoy their music (or news feeds) at their outdoor campsites or during tailgate parties.
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